The Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) has announced that the issuance of the second wave of emergency cash subsidies started on the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje, beneficiaries from key cities such as Makati, Pasig, Caloocan, and Quezon already got their pay-outs. Before this, 1.38 million members of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) devisees secured their benefits.
He also revealed that around 12 million recipients and 5 million waitlisted families will receive their reliefs from the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) through digital payments within 24 hours. It is the agency’s response after the public and lawmakers criticize them for their slow distribution.
The program is a part of the Republic Act 11469 or Bayanihan to Heal as One Act wherein low-income households will get Php 5000 to Php 8000 financial assistance that was affected by the on-going novel coronavirus.
The following are the financial service providers and the regions involved:
- G Cash – NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western and Central Visayas
- Starpay – same as the 7 regions above as well as Zamboanga and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos)
- PayMaya – NCR, CAR, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas
- Union Bank – NCR, Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western and Central Visayas
- RCBC – Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Central Visayas
- Robinsons Bank – NCR, Calabarzon, and Bicol
RELATED: 2nd tranche DSWD registration via Reliefagad.ph application.
DSWD then clarified that these places were based on the guidelines by several government agencies under the Joint Memorandum Circular No.2 series of 2020. They also explained that it is also covered by Executive Order No. 112 and other resolutions provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
On a radio interview, DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao clarified that there were delays in the distribution of cash aid because some receivers got double cash aid. They needed to validate the list from Local Government Units (LGU) to make sure that there will be no reduplication.
During the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista revealed that there are a total of 48,000 beneficiaries who acquired emergency subsidy twice.
On the other hand, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque apologized to qualified individuals for the setbacks in giving out SAPs and promises for a better process. He stated that with the use of technology, there will be faster dispensation of subsidies so they don’t need to worry.
References: MB.com.ph / INQ.ph
